Milling & Baking News - August 28, 2018 - 7

Editorial

Ideal leader for key moment at A.B.A.

s the chair of the American Bakers Associa- valuable perspective to the momentous deliberation, Erin S. Sharp stands apart from her pre- tions currently underway over whether to proceed
decessors of the 120-year-old group in cru- with a checkoff program to advance the interests of
cial ways. Yes, Ms. Sharp is the first woman to lead wheat-based foods. She has served in recent years as
the A.B.A., an honor others in the group concede has a member of the board of directors of one of the most
been long overdue. More importantly, she brings a prominent checkoff programs - MilkPEP, an expedepth of food industry operational experience to the rience she said gave her a great appreciation of the
position that almost certainly is unmatched among potential of such efforts to meaningfully alter public
baking's leaders.
perceptions about dietary staples in challenged secIn an interview last week at the Cincinnati head- tors. Ms. Sharp is a strong advocate for a program
quarters of Kroger Co., where she is the group vice- that will allow consumers to understand the benefits
president of manufacturing, Ms. Sharp discussed of grain-based foods and how baked foods fit into a
her professional background and the key issues nutritious diet.
facing the baking and entire consumer packaged
Ms. Sharp has been active as treasurer within the
foods sectors.
A.B.A. for about four years, a period that has seen the
At Kroger, Ms. Sharp holds oversight responsi- group's financial picture improve and membership
bilities for 36 manufacturnumbers increase. "That
Erin Sharp has served in recent years
ing plants, including 17
doesn't happen without remilk processing facilities,
as a member of the board of directors
ally having a platform and
10 deli/baking plants, 2
of one of the most prominent checkoff a plan to add value for the
cheese plants, 2 beverage
membership," she said.
programs - MilkPEP.
plants and 5 grocery prodAgain, the perspective beuct plants. She was recruited to Kroger because of yond baking provides insights that span the food
20-plus years of previous experience overseeing the manufacturing world and how "companies have to
manufacture of snack food products, ice cream and make choices about where they spend their money"
baked foods. Trained as a financial expert, Ms. Sharp and when companies "don't see those adding value to
eschewed a classic desk job in favor of working in their business then they have to make other choices."
manufacturing plants, dealing first-hand with the
Such a vantage point also is valuable as IBIE 2019
challenges of food production, reveling in the colle- approaches. Disciplined and analytical, Ms. Sharp
gial, energy-filled culture of snack food, dairy and places the unique importance of attending IBIE in
baking production facilities. After time with Frito- three buckets, beginning with the chance to network
Lay and Nestle, Ms. Sharp spent more than five with other industry leaders to understand the chalyears working in the baking business at Sara Lee lenges they face and how they are addressing them.
Corp., first spearheading a continuous improvement Similarly, the ability to gain direct exposure to the
effort and then as a regional head of manufacturing. vast scope of cutting-edge technology assembled in
Having a leader with this breadth of experience the United States only once every three years is an
could not have come at a more opportune moment. opportunity not to be missed. Finally, she said the
The baking industry for years has been sounding the ever-expanding education opportunities have bealarm about the challenges of attracting and retain- come an increasing source of value at IBIE.
ing an adequate workforce, an issue that has been
Over the next two years, the A.B.A. will have its
echoed recently with increasing distress across the hands full executing against a strategic plan unentire food industry as a material factor affecting the veiled earlier this year. With Erin Sharp as chair of
profitability of several leading companies.
A.B.A., baking could not ask for more capable indusMore specific to baking, Ms. Sharp brings uniquely try leadership. MBN
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